Retired Army Vet Gives Opinion on Pulling Troops From Afghanistan

A retired Army veteran who has spent more than 40 years in the military has mixed feelings about pulling the troops out of Afghanistan.

Fritz Bultemeyer has served in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. WFFT reached out to him to get his opinion on the end of the war.

President Obama saying, "We will bring America's longest war to a responsible end."

This coming after his statement that 2014 will end the US Combat Mission in Afghanistan. Local veterans who have served time in that country are voicing their opinions.

"I just don't have the confidence in him and with him downsizing the military below what it was in World War 2. We're just asking for big trouble down the road with Russia and China. All they understand is power.. .and if you don't have power to beat them back, they're gonna make some inroads in places we don't want them to."

Bultemeyer is a Retired Army Command Sergeant Major. He has been deployed to Afghanistan more than once. His first deployment was in 2004.

"I felt we were making REALLY good progress, but then when I went back in 2007 and 2008 as a contractor, I was really disappointed in the lack of achievement as far as progress, as far as bringing the standards, overall, of the Afghan National Army AND the government up to where it should have been in a four years time when I was there in '04."

Bultemeyer fears what could happen if we rush pulling our troops out of Afghanistan.

"If we completely pull out, I mean totally pull out, no advisers, no support, it'll happen just like Vietnam. They will come back in full strength. They will massacre those who supported the US Government and Allies."

According to the President, the Afghan war will be over for Americans by the time he leaves office.

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